Words Of Life

If you want to be wise, listen to Jesus.

John 6:68_

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Read John 6:60-71

John's account was the final gospel record written, and the author, John the son of Zebedee, outlived all of the other disciples of Jesus, His writing often focuses on two important contrasts: light versus darkness and life versus death.__Bill Crowder

There's so much wisdom to be learned,

So many ways for me to grow,

Lord, I would listen like a child,

And learn what You would have me know.__

K. De Haan

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Nest In The Greatness

To mistreat God's creation is to offend the Creator.

Genesis 2:15_

The lord God...put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.

As the marsh-hen secretly builds

on the water sod,

Behold I will build me a nest

on the greatness of God

I will fly in the greatness of God;

as the marsh-hen flies

In the freedom that fills all the space

'twixt the marsh and the skies. __

Sidney Lanier

The natural world that God has made

Must not be used at whim;

We serve as stewards of His earth,

Responsible to Him. __D. De Haan

(Taken from this month's 'Our Daily Bread' ___RBC Ministries)

I Forgot All About My Water Jar

(The Story of the Woman at the Well, John 4)

By E.L.( a member of my church)

It was the usual time for our noon meal, but I had delayed going to the well called Jacob’s Well, for a very good reason. I wanted to avoid meeting some of the stuck-up female neighbors who invariably gave me accusing and spiteful looks. They are jealous, I told myself. I know I’m pretty.

My ancestors were brought to this part of the country from a distant conquered land. They intermarried with others from far away places who were displaced persons here. And that’s another reason for their snobbery, too. I said I’m pretty. Men find me attractive and I like their attention.

When I arrived at the well a Jewish man sat alone nearby. He asked me for a drink of water. I thought it strange and told him so. He—a Jew and me—a Samaritan woman. I was half teasing. I gave him a drink with my most beguiling smile. But his reply had a ring of seriousness in it. “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking for a drink, you would ask him for living water.” I reminded him that he had no water jug and the well was deep, so where would he get living water? I asked, “are you greater than our father Jacob who had this well dug for himself, his sons and his cattle?” It was my way of teasing.

“When you drink this water you will be thirsty again, but the water I give will be like a spring of water, welling up to eternal life,” he said. I thought—I’ve teased him and now he is teasing me. So I said, “Give me this water so I’ll never thirst nor come here to fill my water jug.” Good break for me! No more disdainful looks from the haughty. What a turn this Jewish man gave me! My coquettishness vanished.

“Go call your husband and come here.”

“I have no husband,” I said.

“You are correct to say so. You have had five husbands and the man you are

“Sir,” I said, “you must be a prophet.” I began to speak about the differences between our cultures and where exactly one should worship.

I must tell the others in the city to come and hear for themselves. I ran back shouting, “Come and see. Can this be the Christ?”

I forgot all about my water jar!

I know it's been all Spring & Summer since I last posted in my blog, sorry.

Knowingt His Voice

The sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John 10:3-4

Do you know My voice? It was on of those quiet moments when I knew God was talking to me. Outwardly it would seem that not much has changed with me---- same husband, same family, all growing older through the natural progressions of life.

And yet now, I have an inner hunger that cries, I'm not satisfied with the status quo! I want to take the next step...to live for God as never before. I don't want to just "cope," to make it through life to heaven, safe at last. But how do I grow?

Growth is much easier to measure when we look at visible, tangible things we can measure: opportunities, success, education. And yet our Lord says, "Sitting at my feet, getting to know Me----this is the good part, the part that will never be taken away" (see Luke 10:42).

On our walks in the winter when the snow is deep, the dogs stay close to me. But springtime? Watch out! During the hard, stormy times of my life, I hold fast to my Good Shepherd's hand. When the sunny meadow of life is sweet, though, I develop an illusion of my own strength. That is when I must know His voice as never before.

Know Him as my Source, not just a resource. Grow in the fruit of the Spirit in my home, where I'm known best, following Him right where I live. Does Jesus have more of me now than He did 22 years ago? Do I know His voice so intimately that I am quick to respond? Living in obedience to His Word---as George Mueller said, on "my knees"---that's how we get to know His voice. He does speak; He has not left us comfortless or alone. All He askes is that we keep our hearts turned toward Him, saying "yes."

Prayer

Lord, You call to us in Your still, small voice, saying "Come away, My beloved." In this hectic world, it can be hard to listen to You, to cultivate hearing Your voice. Thank you for reminding us that You are speaking. Give us the courage and discipline to listen to Your voice---to protect our relationship with You above all the distractions of life. And then, after hearing Your voice, may we have the courage to obey You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Nancie Carmichael

"God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is, by His nature, continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking voice...If you would follow on to know the Lord, come at once to the open Bible expecting it to speak to you. Do not come with the notion that it is a thing which you may push around at your convenience. It is more than a thing, it is a voice, a word, the very Word of the living God."

---A.W. Tozer

------Excerpt from the book;

The Comforting presence of God~

Nancie Carmichael

Just look around you and see, everything that was dead[asleep] is alive and new!

Revelation 20:5; And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold , I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write; for these words are true and faithful.

Lamentations 2:22&23; It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.

2 Corinthians 5:17; Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature[creation]; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Psalm 96:1&2; O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.

Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation[proclaim the good news of his salvation] from day to day.